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Showing posts from January, 2021

National Backward Day: A day to do everything in reverse direction

The main reason behind celebrating National Backward Day is to do everything backward. It is fun to do things reverse at the times which we do daily. One of the ways can be writing reverse poetry which you can start reading from top to bottom or bottom to top for getting the meaning of the poem.  Leonardo da Vinci was a person who did everything backward. He did mirror writing which can be read easily when placed in front of the mirror. The reason behind him doing so might be to avoid people stealing his ideas or avoiding religious punishment. Some people also say that he wanted to prevent ink from spreading. It is also said that Vinci was left-handed so writing things in reverse was easy for him. The day was made by two women Sarah Nichole Miller and Megan Emily Scott who were milking cows and came up with the idea of art and craft.  They created the day on January 31 and it has remained so since then. On this day, we can try doing few activities we love in reverse just for t...

Martyrs' Day: A day to honour all the bravehearts of India

The main reason behind celebrating Martyrs Day is to honor those martyrs who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country. It is a day that is celebrated on the national level. It marks the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi by Nathuram Godse. All the dignitaries of the country including the Prime Minister, President, Vice President, Defense Minister and all three service Cheifs gather at Raj Ghat and pay their homages to Gandhiji.  The inter-services contingent reverse their arms to show respect and the armed forces personnel blow bugles for the Last Post. People sing religious prayers and tributes on this day and a two-minute silence is observed throughout the country at 11 am. 

National Corn Chip Day: A day to enjoy a crispy snack item

Corn chips are snack food items that are made by baking or frying cornmeal in small pieces and are either sold in a bag or eaten alone with a dip. The origins of these chips are not very clear but it is a popular snack and one can enjoy it in many ways.  The origin of corn chips goes back to 1932. The story is that C.E. Elmer Doolin purchased a bag of fried corn chips and enjoyed them so much that he sold off his mother's wedding ring which we assume was by her permission to buy the recipe and manufacturer. He began selling these chips from his car and now the company he founded has become the largest corn chips manufacturer in the USA. To celebrate Corn Chip Day, one can enjoy a bag of corn chips with some dips like melted cheese, salsa and guacamole as it can prove to be one of the best snack food. 

Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Anniversary: A man of solid heart

Lala Lajpat Rai has been one of the active and a solid activist who helped India in gaining Independence. He was one of the trios in the Lal Bal Pal group. He traveled to America and wrote a travelogue that has quotes from American and African intellectuals.  He was a part of the Indian National Congress and participated in the political agitation of Punjab. He also participated in the protests against Simon Commission as the Commission did not have a single Indian in its committee.  He was fatally injured as he was personally assaulted during the protests and died because of the injuries. After his death, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Azad exacted their revenge by attacking the British Parliament. On the day of his birth anniversary, we can read more about him and understand his role in Indian Independence. 

International Day of Commemoration: A day to remmeber all the victims who died in holocaust

The main reason behind celebrating the International Day of Commemoration is to remember all the victims who died in the holocaust and reaffirms its commitment to fight racism, intolerance and antisemitism and all other forms of group-related violence.  The date is actually the anniversary of the liberation of Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27th January 1945. The Holocaust not only affected the areas which were camped by Nazis but also had universal implications in many other parts of the world.  All the member states take collective responsibility for caring for historic sites, promoting research, documentation and education, addressing residual trauma and maintaining effective remembrance policies even after seven decades of the genocide.  The responsibility includes educating about consequences, causes and dynamics of these crimes so that their strength to tolerate hatred becomes stronger. This kind of education is m...

International Customs Day: A day to appreciate custom officials and agencies who maiantain border security

The main reason behind celebrating International Customs Day is to understand the role of custom officials and agencies who help in the maintenance of border security. It also focuses on working conditions and challenges which the officials face during their jobs.  The custom agencies hold employee appreciation events where custom officers are recognized for their outstanding services. Conferences, workshops and talks are also held on this day. There are many public outreach events where custom officials educate people about their duties and responsibilities.  It is not an official holiday and everything is open on this day. One can learn more about this day be understanding more about what custom officials do and cooperate them in the same. 

National Tourism Day: A day to roam around the country and explore its beauty

Most of us love travelling around India and exploring new places. There are many places in India which are beautiful but have not been explored well. National Tourism Day is celebrated with a sole objective to promote the beauty of the country through tourism.  Though COVID 19 has hit us badly and people are afraid to get out of their houses and go to a new place but still many of us have gathered courage and stepped out of the houses for exploring new places across the country.  The day is also celebrated to boost the economy of India as it helps in attracting more foreign tourists towards the country. Our diverse culture and history is something which can be better explored when we explore the place completely.  This year there will be virtual seminars and tours to show the rich heritage of India. The day can be celebrated by knowing and understanding the history of a place you love and going there whenever it feels like.

National Girl Child Day: A day to raise awareness about the girls in society

Girls have contributed to society in their own different ways in all the fields. They have paved their paths in the male-dominated society and rose higher than expected. However, despite all this progress and advancements, there are many areas in India where a girl child is killed ruthlessly as soon as she is born. Some people stick to superstitions and old beliefs even today and kill the girl child which is actually a crime in the eyes of law. They think that a daughter is a liability and the son is an asset. What they fail to realize is that a girl can only help in taking forward their lineage.  The government and people need to realize that a girl child is very important and stringent measures should be taken against those who kill girls and there should be awareness programmes so that girls can walk equally with boys.  There might be many obstacles in the path of a girl but all in all, she is one of the best gifts of God one can have. She should not be understood as a disg...

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti: A day to remember one of the best leaders of India

All of us might have heard the name of Subhash Chandra Bose. Mostly he has been portrayed as a villain in Indian history as he was up for violence for getting the freedom of the country and went to foreign for seeking the support.  He was an expert in disguising himself which is the reason why he escaped from all those who tried to kill him. He increased the pride of the country when he met Adolf Hitler who called him Fuhrer or Sir. A person from whom everybody got frightened, Netaji stood like a rock in front of him. He formed the Indian National Army by gathering all the Indian prisoners from foreign countries and the army tried to free the country even without entering in India. When it entered in India, there was an uproar and everybody joined them in fighting for the country.  Netaji was the first person who asked women to take part in the army and formed the first women army. His speeches became famous in form of quotes and even today his death remains a mystery to peopl...

National Blonde Brownie Day: A day to indulge in the much loved dessert

Brownies are very popular dessert items of today and are made by mixing butter, eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder and most importantly, cocoa. Blonde brownies have a unique flavour and through they are not well known but are very delicious.  There are many stories regarding the origin of blonde brownies. One of the stories is that it appeared in a Boston Cookbook which was published by Fannie Farmer in 1896. Another story is that it was made by chefs at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel in 1893 for World's Colombian Exposition.  The brownies rapidly became a dessert in 1906 when Boston Cookbook by Fanny was updated with a blonde brownie recipe. Bonde brownies use brown sugar instead of cocoa which gives them butterscotch flavour.  These brownies were very popular in the 1940s and 1950s as they became an alternative to chocolate. The brownies have many options when it comes to flavours like vanilla, nuts, toffee, butterscotch, coconut or any candy flavour which enhances the fla...

International Sweatpants Day: A day for celebrating the origin of a comfortable outfit

There might be days when you do not feel very active and want to lie down on your couch and take rest. This is the day when sweatpants play an important role in giving relaxation and comfort. The sweatpants were first introduced by Emile Camuset who was the founder of Le Coq Sportif.  The sweatpants were simply knitted grey jersey pants which allowed athletes to run and stretch without any discomfort. The sweatpants are mostly ash grey in colour but few companies take efforts to make them more attractive alongside retaining the comfort of the original pants.  The major objective behind celebrating the day is to not feel embarrassed while wearing sweatpants as they are very comfortable. It is not a necessity that one should wear tight clothes every time they dress.  The day is celebrated by wearing sweatpants but is not limited to it. It helps you in taking a break from the stress and tension of regular life. Wearing sweatpants on this day implies that we want to shed all ...

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti: A day of pride for all the Sikhs

Guru Gobind Singh, born as Gobind Rai was the son of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru who was executed by Aurangzeb. At the tender age of nine, Guru Gobind Singh was made Guru and he was the tenth and final Guru of Sikhs. His sons were executed and killed during his lifetime. The major contribution of Guru Gobind Singh towards Sikhism was the foundation of Khalsa and 5Ks which had to be worn by people of Khalsa faith all the time.  He also founded Dasam Granth whose sayings are a major part of Sikh prayers and Khalsa rituals. He finalized and gave high regard to Guru Granth Sahib which became the primary scripture of Sikhs and was the eternal Guru.  His life is an inspiration for all the Sikhs. He was one of those Gurus who never gave up and was fearless in his actions and deeds. He took revenge from Aurangzeb who killed his father and his death broke out a war between Mughals and the Sikhs.  He was killed by the Mughal army but his teachings and life remain an inspi...

National Disaster Response Force or NDRF Raising Day: A force to respond to all natural disasters within short time

National Disaster Response Force or NDRF is a specialized force which has been formed to address the threatening disaster situation or disaster under the Disaster Management Act. The central body of Disaster Management in India is the National Disaster Management Authority or NDMA.  NDMA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. The responsibility of managing disasters in India lies on the shoulders of the State Government. If a severe calamity occurs, the Central Government is responsible for providing assistance and aid to the affected state by taking the help of different organizations and enabling the communication system.  The NDRF has many decorated officials who help in preventing disasters and if any disaster occurs they take all the measures to prevent it which in turn helps in minimizing the loss of lives.  

National Winnie the Pooh Day: A day to celebrate the birthday of the creator of Winnie the Pooh

One of the most loveliest and cutest days to be celebrated is Winnie the Pooh Day which marks the birth of the character's creator A.A. Milne. The occasion is celebrated by having teddy bear picnics which has lots of honey on the menu.  Winnie the Pooh had appeared in 1926 as a comic stripe with his friends Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. All the characters were based on the toys which were possessed by the son of the author who had featured in famous stories like Christopher Robin.  All the characters have also featured in Disney films later on. Winnie name was derived from Milne's teddy bear Winnie. Pooh was the nickname of a swan he met on a holiday. All the other names were fictitious and did not relate to any real objects.  The adventures and story of Winnie the Pooh move around ancient Ashdown forest of East Sussex. The area has high ridges, open heathland and wooden places. The area is considered to be a good example of natural beauty by the locals.  The day can be...

World Religion Day: A day to observe unity in diversity

Religion is a force which binds us to the world. It helps us in connecting to a divine power which is unseen and unheard but its presence felt around us every day. It gives us the power to live and survive in this ruthless world.  The main objective behind celebrating this day is that all the religions have a spirit of harmony and they bring humanity together. It is celebrated all across the world in different countries who follow their own customs and traditions for celebrating the festival.  On this day, one can try to understand more about their specific religions and try to understand the peace and harmony message which they have tried to preach since olden times. The teachings of all religions can help us in becoming a better and open-minded human. 

International Hot and Spicy Food Day: A day of indulgence for chilli lovers

International Hot and Spicy Foods Day is meant for those people across the world who love having a great amount of chillies and spices. It is celebrated by hosting cooking challenges of different recipes, fancy dress contests and eating challenges.  The celebration is meant for those who love taking risks and trying new things. The people who do not eat spicy food should not be left out. Instead, they should also try different cuisines from different cuisines which are less spicy and good in taste.  The spices and chillies have been consumed by people from the last 6,000 years. There are different kinds of spices which can make your food spicy and chilly. The day is meant to celebrate these spices as without them our food becomes bland and boring.  Spicy food not only tastes good but has many health benefits. Spices have antioxidants and antimicrobial properties which can kill bacteria. Spices also help in reducing inflammation in the body. Spices are also helpful in boos...

Army Day: The day when India got complete control on its army

Army Day is celebrated every year in India to remember the taking over of the Indian Army Commander in Cheif post by Feild Marshal Kondandera M Cariappa from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander in Cheif of India on 15th January 1949.  The day is celebrated by taking out parades and other military shows in Delhi as well as all the headquarters. The 73rd Indian Army Day will be celebrated today i.e. on 15th January 2021 in New Delhi. It salutes all the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the countrymen.  While the celebrations take place all over the country, the main parade of Army Day is held at Cariappa Parade ground at Delhi Cantonment. Sena medals and Gallantry Awards are also given on this day. 15 soldiers have been given Gllantary Awards in 2020.  Ashok Chakra and Param Vir Chakra awardees take part in Army Day parade every year. The parade displays many contingents, military hardware and combat display. Captain Tania Shergill was...

Makar Sakranti: A festival to remember Sun God

Makar Sakranti or simply Sankranthi is a festival dedicated to Sun God. It is observed in Magha month of January every year and is celebrated across India and Nepal. It marks the end of winter days and the beginning of long days as the sun moves to Makara or Capricon rashi.  It is one of those festivals which moves according to the solar cycle, unlike other festivals which are set according to lunar cycles. The day is celebrated through colourful decorations and kids go to every house and sing and ask for treats.  There are melas, dances, bonfires feasts and kite flying on this day. Many people go and bathe in sacred lakes and rivers and thank Sun God. There is a Kumbha Mela held in every twelve years on Makar Sakranti where people go to Prayagraj and take a dip in the sangam of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. 

Lohri: A festival of harvest and joy for all

Lohri is a winter festival celebrated across Punjab. The festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of long summer days. It is observed just a day before Makar Sakranti. It is celebrated not only in Punjab but is spread all across India.  It also celebrates the winter harvest and the farmers remember Sun deity and thank him for giving them good crops which is one of the reasons why Agni is lighted on his day as he gives them heat and light so that the crops can grow well.  The day is celebrated by lighting fire and performing traditional dances like Gidda and Bhangra. It is necessary to eat gur and til items on this day. There are many traditional songs sung by children on this day and it is a fun and entertaining festival which brings people together for celebrations. 

National Youth Day: A day of inspiration for modern youth

January 12, which is celebrated as National Youth Day all over India is actually the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The day was declared as Youth Day in 1984 by the Indian Government and has been celebrated since 1985. Swami Vivekananda was one of the most famous Monk or Philosopher across the world.  Swami Vivekananda was the disciple of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The objective behind celebrating this day as said by the Government of India is that Swamiji's ideals, teachings and philosophy is very much relevant for today's youth.  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2013 addressed the nation by saying that the ideals of Swami Vivekananda are similar to Mahatma Gandhi and should be celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal.  The day is celebrated every year in schools and colleges through seminars, yogasanas, presentation, recitation, sports, music, speeches among others. It is a very important occasion for youth all across the country. 

Lal Bahadur Shastri Death Anniversary: The rise and fall of a great Indian Leader

Most of us know about Lal Bahadur Shastri who was the second Prime Minister of India and according to me, one of the best Prime Ministers of India. His views, opinions and outlook always favoured the less favoured ones and he tried to give them all kinds of facilities so that they can live in peace.  Coming to the death of Shastriji, it has been one of the most mysterious and controversial deaths of Indian history. Many people say he died of cardiac arrest but after seeing his body, his family members said that he had been poisoned.  His death was never investigated properly and even till the day it remains a mystery as to how Shastriji died. Nonetheless, whatever the situation and circumstances have been he has been one of the best leaders of India who always kept in mind the progress of the country and worked towards it.  I just hope that the Indian Government will include Shastriji in history or political science books in school so that students can understand his cont...

World Hindi Day: A day of pride for Indians all across the world

Hindi is a language which is a matter of pride for Indians all across the world. It is spoken by Indians and has been improvised according to human needs. It gives us a sense of independence and unique identity.  Hindi has been improvised from Sanskrit and is much easier than the latter. World Hindi Day is celebrated mainly to remind people, especially Indians, all across the world that there is no language greater and better than Hindi.  On World Hindi Day, one can learn more about Hindi language and its origins and improvisations and encourage people around to speak Hindi as much as possible so that we can promote our culture well. 

NRI Day or Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas: A day to remember contribution of Indians living abroad

The day is a very important one as Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa on this day in 1915. It is an ideal platform for the government to contact scattered communities who live in different parts of the world.  PBD conventions are held every year since 2003. The format of these conventions has been revised and since 2015 PBD is held once every two years and theme-based PBD conferences are conducted during the intervening period where policymakers, stakeholders and experts from the diaspora community mark their presence.  PBD is celebrated to remember the contribution of the Overseas Indian community to the development of the country. The day is one of the most important days because it reminds us of the Indian community's contributions living abroad towards the development and progress of the country. 

African National Congress Foundation Day

African National Congress or ANC is the ruling political party of South Africa. It has won every election after the 1994 election in which Nelson Mandela came to power. Cyril Ramaphosa, the current President of South Africa is the leader of ANC since December 2017.  The party was founded by John Langalibalele Dube in January 1912 Bloemfontein as South African Native National Congress or SANNC. The primary objective of this party was to bring Africans together as a single unit and defend their freedom and rights.  This included giving complete voting rights to black South Africans and mixed-race South Africans and end the apartheid system from 1948 which was introduced by Nationalist Party Government after their elections in the same year by white voters only.  The day is actually a reminder of the freedom given to all the people of South Africa without discriminating between caste, creed, color or religion and choose the eligible leader to guide them. 

National Tempura Day: A Japanese dish enjoyed by people across the world

Tempura Day is celebrated to eat all types of dishes which are made with tempura batter. It is a Japanese food fest where people relish on some delicious Tempura prawns. Many things can be deep fired in this batter.  Some of the common items which can be made with tempura batter are vegetables, seafood and chicken. Tempura is a traditional Japanese dish that was introduced by Portuguese in the 16th century who were residing in Nagasaki at that time.  The Portuguese used fritter cooking to get light batter. The batter has soft wheat flour like cake flour, pastry flour and all-purpose flour which is mixed with cold water. The sparkling water can be used to keep the batter light.  Many people add starch, spices, oil, baking soda or baking powder and eggs especially egg yolk to the batter. The batter is normally mixed in small batches. Chopsticks are used for mixing the batter and the batter is mixed only for few seconds.  In case of any lumps left in the batter along wi...

World War Orphans Day: A harsh reminder to take care of orphans in war torn countries

There are many children across the world whose parents either die naturally or leave them in an orphanage. However, we also find children whose parents die in a war which leaves a permanent mark on their lives as they somehow remember the incident vividly.  It is very difficult for these kids to cope up with the harsh reality and they become withdrawn and might also seek revenge from those who cause this war and made their lives tragic. It is very difficult to understand the mental condition of these kids as they have many thoughts crossing their minds.  World War Orphans Day makes us realize that many orphans across the world need to be nurtured and taken care of. It is very important to be helpful and compassionate towards them so that they can progress in life on a positive note. 

National Whipped Cream Day: A yummy day for all the dessert lovers

Whipped cream is something that enhances the taste of a dessert to a great level and gives it a classy touch. It can transform many desserts and hot drinks. Whipped cream is a cream that is whipped by mixer or whisk until it becomes fluffy and light.  To get the best results, the cream which has at least 35% fat is whipped. The process of whipping the cream is simple and involves either a hand whisk or a high-speed mixer. While some people love to have plain whipped cream others enhance its taste further by adding vanilla, chocolate or sugar to it.  Nowadays, there are also dairy-free variations of whipped cream for those who are milk intolerant. They are marketed under the name of vegan friendly. The whipped cream is not a modern invention. It dates back to the 16th century.  The whipped cream was named in a recipe book in 1549 by an Italian Renaissance cook Cristoforo di Messisbugo. His cookbook  Banchetti, composizioni di vivande e apparecchio general, discusses m...

World Braille Day: A day of boon for all those who could not see the world

World Braille Day is celebrated on the day when Louis Braille was born. Louis was the inventor of Braille. He was born in 1809 in France and became blind after a childhood accident. He quickly commanded on the way of living.  Braille was 15 years old when he started a reading and writing system based on Barbier's night writing system. Louis's system is today known as Braille. Braille is now easy to read and understand all across the world.  The day is a reminder of the importance of independence and accessibility to those who are visually impaired. Many organizations do not offer braille scripts to people which makes it difficult for them to go there and purchase something.  The day also spreads awareness about Braille and other forms of communication. Everybody in this world deserves to have the same accommodation and service without judging their ability. On World Braille Day, one should make their services accessible to everyone. 

National Chocolate covered Cherry Day: A delecious day for chocolate lovers

National Chocolate covered Cherry Day is a favorite day of all in the holidays. National Confectioners Association recognizes this day as an annual event. The people who love eating chocolate-covered cherries know that it is impossible to eat these candies.  Candy makers combine two favorite flavors in one which makes it one of the most irresistible treats. The candies can have a sweet liquid center or liqueur filling. These cherries are also chocolate cordials. They can be made at home or purchased from the market.  Different recipes imitate the flavor of this favorite candy. They are favorable to be eaten in midwinters. In 1700 England cherries were covered in chocolate with some cordial liqueur. When it came to the United States, Americans used some alcoholic substitute for the fruit dipped in chocolate. Though chocolate-covered cherries are made from liqueurs or cordials but commonly it is made with sugar syrup with cherry flavor. These cherries are cooked in sugar syrup a...

World Introvert Day: A day for celebration of all the certified introverts

There are two types of people in this world. One are introverts who are not very open with others while others are extroverts who can immediately strike a friendship with different people. Though introverts do not have many friends but those who are there in their life enjoy their company.  Many people mistake introverts as egoistic or over smart people as they do not talk much. However, this is a wrong perception as introverts might be a bit hesitant in opening up but once they open up you can discuss anything with them.  Being an introvert, I know that it is a bit difficult to open up with others but there is no harm in trying. On World Introvert day, the least one can do is try to understand the introvert and interact with them at least once for striking a long-lasting friendship. 

Global Family Day: A day to spend time with your loved ones

A family is a unit without which one cannot survive. Family helps us in surviving in this tough world and helps us in facing the world with all the courage and might. Many people do not have families at all and consider the whole world to be their family.  Global Family Day is celebrated with the sole motive of spending time with your family members and thanking them for everything they have done. It gives us a feeling of love, closeness and attachment.  On this day, let us make everyone feel like a family especially those who do not have anyone in this world and are all by themselves. It will make them happy and satisfied knowing that they are not alone in this world.